Are you a stay-at-home parent? Do you take care of other family members children? Or children of close friends or neighbors? If YES, then this booklet is for you!

Whether you are taking care of just one child on occasion or several children on a regular basis, you are creating lifelong impressions for them through the choices you make during that time.

Even if you are “just watching the kids,” “babysitting,” or “spending time with your grandbabies,” this is important time. Children in your care are watching you, listening to you, and learning a great deal from you.

From newborn infants to young teens, these children depend on you and the other adults in their lives to keep them safe and healthy, to look out for their best interests, and to show them how to interact with the world around them in a way that will bring them joy and success. They are learning from you about their own value in the world, how to get their wants and needs met, and how to treat others. From the big things to the little things you do, the impact you have on the life of a child can reach far into the future.

Information for this booklet has been compiled from a wide variety of sources and field-tested by real-life people caring for children.

It is a gift to you, for all you do, to support a great future for a child, for our community and the world…Thank you!